The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Abrasives in Toothpaste on Dental Plaque Removal: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background and Objective: The role of dental plaque as the etiology of caries and periodontal diseases has long been established. Therefore, plaque control is central to the prevention and management of these oral diseases. Among the different means of self-performed plaque control, brushing is the most essential. Moreover, toothpaste is a common adjunct during tooth brushing, as its abrasive contents are believed to enhance plaque removal. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of plaque removal when brushing with a sodium bicarbonate abrasive-containing toothpaste, compared to brushing using an abrasive-free toothpaste.

Methods: Twelve students from the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry participated in the study. The subjects discontinued all oral hygiene measures for a minimum of 48 hours. Using the Modified Bass technique, they performed tooth brushing for two minutes, using either an abrasive-free or abrasivecontaining toothpaste. Toothpaste allocation was randomized via fishbowl method. Pre-brushing and postbrushing plaque scores were recorded using the Turesky modification of Quigley-Hein plaque index. A washout period of 11 days was implemented before crossover to the second round, wherein employed toothpastes were switched. The difference in plaque reduction between the two kinds of toothpaste was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results and Conclusion: Overall plaque reductions were 75% for the abrasive-free toothpaste and 73% for the abrasive-containing toothpaste. The difference between the toothpaste was statistically insignificant (p=0.48). Therefore, based on the study, brushing with a sodium bicarbonate abrasive-containing toothpaste resulted in similar levels of plaque removal, compared to brushing with an abrasive-free toothpaste. There is insufficient evidence that abrasives in toothpaste result in more effective dental plaque removal.